Rail joint and plate



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,961 R. FEHR RAIL JOINT Ami Pwr Filed 1300.5. 1924 ZShQegsShaat 1 JF E11 gi f INVENTOR l8 6 BY. 23 641657) ATTORNEY Sgpt. 22, 1925. 1,554,963

- R. B. FEHR RAIL JOINT AND PLATE Filed 1m. 5. 1924 2 Sheets-Shei 2 INVENT R Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED. srnrss P E T OFFICE}.

ROY B. rm,'or"cnnvnnnnn, cnio, AssIGNonTo 'rnn RAIL w'rmnms s nonnina .comrm, I' CLEVELAND,' 01:10, A conrona'rron or DELAWARE.

' nAiL Jom'r Ann PLATE.

Application filed DecemberS, 1924. Serial- Ho. 754,194.

To all whom, itfmay concern:

Be it known that], ROY B. Fnmn'n citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in thecoimty of .Cuyahoga and-State 5 of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Rail Joints and Plates, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to rail joints and to plates thereof. v 'It also relates to a joint plate shaped to he seam welded to a rail base remote 'from the edge of therziil; to support molten weld seam -metal' in contact with the rail head and having a .high'sectionmodnlus. It also relates to a new and improved joint plate-provided with means for indieating theproper: position of 1 seam 'weld metal with respectto a- -ail." 1 l 1 -.It further relates to a joint plate o'isimple configuration vmd improved'sti-eng'th' which his easy-and cheap to manufacture. which is --adapted'suitably' to position weld metal ad- :jaccnt to and under ,th'e' rail headand permit weldmetal to be positioned remote from theedge"of the rail base, and which embodiesmeans for indicating to the welder the properpredeter nined position of weld -metal. I

In the drawings accompanying and form- 0 ing a part oflthis speci cation:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of :1 jointconstructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation partly .in section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation looking toward the right side of Fig. 2; V

Fig. 4.; is a fragmentary view similar to .Fig. 3 but looking toward the left side of "Fig. 2 and showing a modified form of -joint; 1

Fig. 5 is a VlBW' similar to Fig. 2 taken on line '5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Figs'."6, 7 and 8 are respectively top plan, side elevation. andcross sectional views of a joint with plates embodying a modified form of my invention. H

. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of the rail web and plates showing how the tapered pins are used to set up mutual endise compression of the rail ends.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. lindirates aligned, grooved rails having heads 2,

bases 3, lips land webs 5, on either side of which rails are positioned joint plates 6 and 7 which are channel shaped in cross section and which are shown as. consisting res ectively of arched or bowed web's 6 and enlarged areas of fishing contact with the heads 2 and bases 3 of the rails, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. The plates 6 and metal receiving surfaces e'xtendingjwellbenea'th the adjacent rail heads form" recesses and extending forwardly of the heads to form ledges 6! and 7 which serve as means for supporting moltenseam fwld metal to be joine to the outer'an' underside surfaces'of the rails 1 andtdtlieplates,

" 6 and 7. The base flangesli and 'lfzareexv tended laterally beyond; the webs 6f'aiid 79 but stop-short of the edges of the rail base but at the ends of the plates are furtherextended as at 6* and 7 so as to be sixbstan tially flush with the outer edges of-the bases 3. Also these flanges are extended intermediate the ends of the rails as at 6 and 7' to a point substantially flush with-the'edges of the rail bases 3. Between the extensions 6 and 6 and 7 and? the cdges'of the flanges 6 and 7 may be welded to the rail base remote from the edge ofthe rail base while these extensions constitute means for indicating the predetermined position of the seam weld metal with respect to the plate and also for locating the seam weld metal at predetermined places on the rail base. The extensions 6 and 6 and 7' and 7 likewise aflord additional strengthening means to the plates 6 and 7-, the lextensions 6 and i 7 inparticnlarserving furth t increas;

the section "modulus of the plates ad'acent to the meeting ends of the. rails 1. t will be understood, however, that I may omit-ex tively with holes 12 and in such assembled position while similar.

- bolts are placed in holes 10 and 12 toireplac'e the tapered pins. After being assembled in this manner, seam 'weld metal may be formed, by any suitable means such'asby the metal or carbon arc processes, the -top weld metal receiving surfaces of the flanges 6 and 7 to secure the plates 6and 7 to theheadset the rails 1 and on the rail bases remote from the ed es thereof to secure'the plates to the ra' ase's. Informing the seam weld metal.' between the head flanges and the rail heads, I prefer to stop the seam welds short of the ends of the plates sub stantially as indicated at '14in-F1g; 3. The extensions '6' and 6 and-'7 and? furnish automatic means for stopping ,theseam'. metal short of the ends of the plates and forindicating its position with respect to the plate and for positioning it in predetermined locations upon the rail base. In Figs) 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified form of a pint platewhere 15 indicates laced in y 'le inay havev their head flanges cut away as shown in Figs, 4 and 5, if desired, and

similarly-that theseplates may be provided 'with'extensions corresponding to extensions j 19 and 23 of Figs. 4' and 5.

When plates 15 and 20 are of.difierent ngths and assembled in pairs as shown by plates 6 and 7 of Fig. 1 an seam weld metal is employedkto unite the plates tothe head and bases of the rails, the ends of the weld metal will be automatically staggered thus providing a fillet efi'ect betweenthe rail and the weld metal. v In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, 24 indicates two aligned,- substantiallly abutting ra'ilson opposite sides of each of which are assembled plates. 25 and which plates are secured in position partly by means of bolts 27 and nuts28. The lates 25 and 26 resemble in many respects t e plates 6 and 7 and 15' and 16 hereinabov'e described. The plates 25 26' each have substantially similar shaped cross sections and comprise web portions '25., and 26!, head flanges 25" and 26"- and base'flanges 25 and 26. The head flanges 25", 26 have extended fishing areasof contact with the heads of rails 24 as indicated and are provided on. their u per surface with weld metal receiving sur aces extending wellfbene'ath' the adjacent rail heads'to forma recess and eiztending forwardlyof the said'heads to form-led'ges 25 and-26. The surfaces 25 and 26 may be -of various configurations. such for example asbeing beveled as shqwn ih-Fig.-2 and 5,

a plate channe shaped in cross section and'-. orfsubstantiall horizontal or slightlycurve'd base flange 18 of shifi'cient length to permit its being turned downwardly past theedge of the base of rail 1, as shown in Fig. 5. This extension 19'serves as a means of addi- 1. tionally strengtheningl-the plate- 15 and increasing its section modulus as well as .osi-' tioniug s am weld metal on ,the baseo the rail, as-described above in connection with extensions 6 and 7 of plates 6 and 7. 2 It will be understoed fthat late 20 is similar in substantiallyall respectstoplate 7, except that it has it'shead flange 21. cut away at either end thereof substantially as. shown in Fig. 4 for plate 15 and Efor sub-1; stantially the same purpose. An extension 23 of the baseflange 22 intermediate the ends of the plate corresponds to extension 19 on plate 15. 4 I

It will he understood that plates 6- and 7 weld'metal in contact with the rail bgjae sad 7 the rail bases.

When bolts with sides of the plates remote from theiidges of square heads such as bolts 27 are used and the head engages with r the plate 25, the corners of the head will bear against the head flange 25 and prevent turning of the' bolt when the nut 28 is tightened against plate 26. It will be understood by those skilled in that art that plates 6v and 15 may likewise serve to prevent turnmg of the bolts provided bolts are employed having. square heads.

, In Figs. 6,7

with respect to the plates, this means compri ing small rib-like. rejections 23 formed on he surfaces 25 an 265 and similar pro; jections 30 formed on .the upright side surfaces of the base fia'nges'25" and 26'. These projections 29tand 30 serve to indicate to the welder the points between which molten weld metal should be formed. .ILt will be p and 8 1 have shown means for a-indicating the proper .positioniof weld metal noted by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 that each plate has four projections 29, these projections being provided to indicate to the welder the portionof the plate along which weld metal is to be formed in a single operation and another portion along which weld metal is to be formed by two opthese projections;

may be determined vditionsa v make.

erations. The, projections 30 mayv likewise indicate portions of the plate along which the weld metal is to be formed one or more operations or they may indicate that no weld ine'tal'is to be formed at the meeting ends of the rails. Although the means were pro vidcd for indicating the position of the Weld metal with respect to the plates comprising the rib-like projections 29 and 30, it will be. obvious to those skilled in the art that slight depressions: might be employed instead of Whether depressions. or

projectionsare employed for this purpose by manufacturing con- It will be joint plates combining increased strength with proper positioning of the weld metal with respect tothe'rail with highly efficient contact and consequently increased strength ofihe joint. -.It-.wil'l further be observed that I have provided means for indicating the bearing pressure per unit of-area varies I inversely with the fishing areas, plates hav ing enlarged fishing areas have correspondingly decreased unit bearing pressures. A direct result of decreas ng the unit bearing pressure onthe plates s to tend to diminish Y the distortion of the plates.

My invention has been set forth hereinabove in some detail by reterring to ccrtaln specific parts. It will be understood, however, thatcllanges in such parts and details have been shown only for purposes of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the invention, the spirit and scope of wl 1i ch is defined by what is claimed.

\Yh'at I claim is: v

1. The method of constructing a' seam welded rail joint which comprises .aligning adjacent rail ends, fitting in fishing relation on opposite sides-of the rail ends joint plates of channel shaped cross section, said plates each having a, top with a weld metal receiving surface at the top edge eXt-endingi ell beneath theadjaobserved *that T have provided flange provided cent rail head to form a recess and extendm5 forwardly of the said headto form a le ge and having a. base flange extending outwardly toward the edge of the rail base butstopping shortthereof and having 'an upright seam'weld metal engaging surface,

bringing the rail; heads together under moderate mutual endwise compression through, the instrumentality of. the joint plates, fusing with an electric arc adjacent portions of the rail head, the upper surface of each plate and additional metal froma welding rod to. form a seam weld disposed in thelrecess and on the ledge and integrally united to the rail head and plate and forming seam weldsintegrallyuniting the verti- -cal portions of theba'se fianges ofthe lates and the adjacent portions of the rail ases. 2.-The method of: constructing a seam welded rail joint which con'iprisesali adjacent rail ends, fitting i'n fishing ire ation ing on opposite sides of the rail ends joint plates of channel shaped cross section having their 1 ends unaligned, said fplates' each]having top flange-provided withjafweld 'let 7 ceiving surface at the top 'edgeieatending' are well beneath: the adjacent rail hea "iforin a recess and extending forwardlyiofth said headto form a ledge, driving drif p through the slightly unalignedholesinthe plates andrai] ends tobring'the rail 'he'ads together under moderate mutuateiidwise compression, fusing with an electric arc ad? surface of each plate and additional metal from a welding rod to form a seam weld jacent portions ofthe rail head the pper disposed in the recess and on the led e and integrally united to the rail-head an plate and forming seam welds integrally uniting.

the vertical portions of :the base flanges of the )lates and theadjacentportions of the rail ases.

3. The method bf constructing a seam welded rail Ijoint which comprises aligning ad acent rai enlis -fitting 1n fishing relation on opposit sidcs of the rail ends joint plates of channel sha'ped cross section having their ends unaligned, said plates each having a a top flange provided with a weld metal ,receiving surface at the topedge extending well beneath the adjacent rail head to form a recess .and extending forwardly of the said head to, form a ledge, driving drift pins through the slightly unaligned holes in the plates and rail ends to bring the rail heads together under 'nioderate mutual endwise compression, fusing with an electric arc adjacent portions of'the rail head, the upper surface of each plate and additional metal,

from a welding rod to form aseain weld dis posed in the recess and on the ledge andintegrally-united to" the rail head and and forming seam welds integrally uniting the vertical portions of the base flanges of r the plates .and the adjacent portions of the late ' said head to fprm a le ge, seam weld metal plate having 'a surface a'long'the-to aligned adjacent rail ends, channel shaped joint plates arranged on opposite .sides of the rail ends-engaging the heads and bases of the rails "in fisiing relation, each said edge thereof extending well beneath the a jacentrail head to form a recess and extending forwardly. of the said head to form a ledge,

seam weld metal in each said recess and on each saidledge integrally united to the said plates and the rail heads, and base seam welds integrally uniting the rail bases and the'plates.

- 5. A seam waded militia at ests aligned adjacent rail. ends, channel shaped f.

joint lates arrangedwith their ends/un aligne on opposite sides of the rail end's' engaging the heads and bases of the rails in fishing relation, each said plate having 3a surface along' the top edge thereof extending.

well beneath the ad acent rail head'to form a recess and exten'din forwardly of the in each recess-and 'on each said ledge integrall united to the said plates andthe rail hea s, and baseseain' welds integrally uniting .the rail bases and the plates.

6. A seam welded rail joint'comprising.

aligned m ttens rail ends having their ;heads under mutual e'ndwisecompression,

channel shaped joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends engaging the eads and bases of the rails in flshmg relation, each. said plate havin a surfacealong.

the to edge thereof exten ing well beneath the a jacent rail head to form a recess and extending forwardly of the said head to form a ledge, seam weld metal in eazh said recess and on each saidl'edge integrally united to the said plates and the rail heads, and

base seam welds integrally imiting the rail bases and the plates.

7. A seam welded rail jdint comprising aligned adjacent rail ends having their heads' under mutual endwise compression,

lates arranged on opposite sides of.-

joint the, rail ends each engaging the heads and bases of the rails in fishin relation, and

having head and base flan es to form a channel section, each said head flange being rovided with a weld metal receiving sur ace extending well beneath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and extending forwardly of said railhead to form a led e and each said base flange-having a vertica weld metal engaging surface, seam weld metal in each said recess and on each said led e integrally. united to said plates and rail, heads, and base seam welds integrally unitin the rail bases and. the vertical portions o the base flanges of the, plates. y

8. A seam welded rail 'oint comprising aligned adjacent rail ends having their heads under mutual endwise compression joint plates arranged onopposite sides 0 the rail ends and engaging the heads and having head and base flanges to form chan nel sections, each said head flange being ro- 10 bases; of the rails 'in' fishing relation, and

vided with a weld, metal receiving. sur ace 1 extending well beneath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and extending fo'rwardly of. said rail head to form a ledge and each said base flange having a vertical weld metal engaging surface, seam weld metal in each said recess and on each said ledge ill- 9 'tegrally united to said plates and rail heads and base seam'. welds integrally "unitin the I rail bases and the vertical base flanges of theplates, a l of saidseam welds stopping short of the ends of the plates.

9. A seam welded rail joint comprising 'rtions -o the aligned adjacent rail jends having their heads Under mutual endwise compression joint plates arranged on opposite sides 0 the rail ends and enga inglthe heads and Bases of the rails in fishing relation and having head and base flanges toform channel sections, each said head flange being provided with: 'a weld m'etal receiving surface extending well beneath an adjacent rail head to form a recess an wardly" of said rail head? to .form a ledge and each said' base flanger having a vertical weld metal enga ing surface, seam weld. metal in each sai recess and on each said ledge integrall united to said plates and rail heads, an base seam welds inte rally extending for-,-

uniting the rail bases and the vertical portions of the base flanges .of the plates, all of said seam welds stopping short of the, ends of the plates and ending in dififerent ver-' 'tical planes.

10. A seam welded rail joint comprising aligned adjacent rail ends, -joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends andengaging the heads and bases of. the rails in shing relation and having head and base flanges and having their ends unaligned, each saidhead flange beingprovided'witha weld metal receiving surface extending well beneath an adjacentrailhead to' form a recess and-extending'fomwardly of said rail head toform a ledge weld metal engaging surface, seam weld" Q metal in each said recess and on 'each said a and each said base flange having a vertical ledge integrally united to said plates and rail heads, and base seam welds inte rally uniting the rail bases and the vertica nortions of the base flanges of the: plates, all-0f said seam welds stopping short elf the 'ends' of the plates and ending" in different vertical planes. 7

1 '1. A seam welded rail joint, comprising aligned adjacent rail ends, joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends and engaging the heads and bases of then vided with aweld metal receiving surface extending well beneath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and extendin' -forw'ardly of said ;rail. head to form a le' gemnd each said base flange having vertical weldm'etal engaging surfaces and an outwardly extending projection intermediate the ends" of the plate, seam weld metal in each said recess and on'each said ledge integrally united to said plates and rail heads, and base seamwelds integrally unitin the rail bases and the vertical portions 0 the plates.

12. A seam welded rail joint comprising aligned adjacent rail joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends and engaging the head's and bases of the rails in fishing relation and having head and base flanges to form, channel shaped, sect-ions, each said head being provided with a: weld metal receiving surfaceextending. well" beneath fan ,adjacentrail head to f :ma recess afid extendin forwardly of saidrailhead af le ge andeach said base flanfge having,vertical-weldmetal,engaging: ces and an outwardly-extending pro-'3 e jeetion intermediate the ends of-jthe p seam weld metal in each said 'reoessand on,

each said led e integrally united to said plates and rail head'sand base ,seam welds 'mtegrally uniting the 'rail bases and the vertical portions of the plate base flanges, all of saidseam welds stopping short of the ends of-the :plates"and ending in different vertical planes.

13. A seam welded rail joint comprising aligned adjacentji'ail ends, joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends and engaging the heads and bases of the rails in fishing relation and havinghead and base flanges to form channel shaped sections, each said head flange being provided with a weld metal receiving surface extending well be-, neath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and extendin forwardly of said rail head toform a ledge and each said base flange having vertical weld metal engaging surfaces and an outwardly extending projection intermediate the ends of theplate and outwardly extendingprojections at the ends of the plate, seam weld metal in each said recess and on each said ledge integrally united to said plates and rail heads, and base seam welds integrally uniting the rail bases and the vertical portions of the plate base flanges, all of said seam welds stopping short of the ends of the plates and ending in difl'erent vertical lanes 14. A seam wel ed rail joint comprising aligned adjacent rail ends, joint plates arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends enaging the heads and bases of the rails in ,slnng IClHi-IOII, each said plate hav ng a web and head and base flanges projecting oiitwardlyfrom the web .at opposite edges ihereof, the said head flange being of less -le ngth"than the web and being provided with a weld metal receiving surface extending well beneath an adjacent-redhead to form a reccss and extending forwardly of said'raili head to form a ledge, seam weld metal in eachsaid recess and on each said ledgeintegrally united'to said plates and rail heads, and base seam welds integrally uniting the rail basesand base flanges of the plates.- f i 15. In a welded rail joint, joint plates having upright webs lying-within the fishing space of the rails and top and bot-tom outwardly deflected anges, the top flange being provided with a welding surface extending well beneath an' adjacent rail head toform a recess and extending; forwardly of said rail head to form a ledge, the bottom flange being formedwith an outer-weldingface disposed substantially 'in .a verticalplane, the

said recessed portion of; thetopsflange ,and

the'vertical' face ofthe bottom-flange being located outside of the zone of the loadca rrying web portion of the plate.-

' lGJ In :a welded rail oint, oint plates \having upright ,webslying :within the fiSh'.

ing spaceot the rails. and top'and bottom outwardly;deflected flanges, the top flange heing-prm 'idedwith a wcldingsurface extending well beneath the adjacentrail head to form arecess disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and extending forwardly of said rail head to form a ledge, the bottom flange being formed with an outer Welding face disposed substantially in a vertical plane, the inner part of the said recessed port-ion of the top flange and the said vertical face of the bottom flange lying inside of the outer edge of the rail head.

17. In a welded rail joint, a joint plate comprising a vertical web portion and offset top and bottom flanges; the said bottom flange lying inside of the vertical plane of the outer side of the rail-head, the top flange being provided with a substantially horizontally disposed welding surfaee extending from well beneath the adjacent rail head outwardly beyond the adjacent portion of said rail head to form a ledge, the bottom flange being provided with a substantially vertical welding face, said recess and ledge and said vertical face being located outside of the zone of the load-carrying portion of the plate.

18. A joint plate for welded rail joints, channel shaped in cross section and havin a top weld metal receiving surface adapte to extend well beneath an adjacent rail head to' form'a recess and forwardly of said rail head to form a ledge.

' 19. As a new article of manufacture arolled joint plate for welded rail' joints having head and base flanges to, form a channel section, said head flange being provided with aweld metal receiving surface ada ted to extend well beneathan adjacent ra l head to form a recess and forwardly of said r'ail head to form a ledge and said base flange having a substantially vertical weld metalengaging surface.

20. As a new article of manufacture a rolled joint plate for welded rail joints, said v plate having an outwardly bowed web portion and having head and base flanges to form a channel section, said head flange be- I ing'provided with a weld metal receiving surface adapted to extend well beneath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and forwardly of said rail headto form a ledge,

said 'base flange having a substantially vertical weld metal engaging. surface.

21. As a new -article'of manufacturea j oint plate for welded rail joints havinghead and ass flanges to form alchannel section, and

means formed in the edges of said flanges for indicating thevdesired length"of,seam weldsl 22. A joint 'plate for welded rail joints having head and base jflanges, said head flange being provided with a weld metal receivmg surface adapted to extend well be? neath an adjacent rail head to form a recess and forwardly "of'said rail head to-form a ledge, said base flange having substantially vertical weld metal engaging surfaces and an outwardly extending projection intermediate the ends of the plate.

" 23. A jointplate for welded rail joints hav- 40 ing head and base flanges, said head flange being provided with a ,Weld metal receiving surface adapted to extend well beneath an adjacent rail head to'form a recess and forwardly of said rail head to form a ledgegsaid. 45 base flange having substantially vertical weld metal engaging surfaces, outwardly extending projections at the ends of the plate and one intermediate the ends ofthe plate." .'v 24. A joint plate for welded rail joints having head and base flanges, said head flange being provided with a weld metal re-l ceivmg surface adapted to extend-well be .neath an adjacent rail head to form a recess 55 and forwardly of said head to form a ledge," said base flange having-substantially vertical weld. metal engaging surfaces, outwardly extendin projections at the ends of the plate an H plate ada' ted'to extend beyond said rail ass andownwardlythereb ond..

I 25. A joint plate for. wel'ed rail joints one intermediate the ends of the 

